Miss Heir wasn't very kind to me.

Chapter 137, Section 13: "Masumi-kun, stay with me for a moment."

The last song ended amidst thunderous applause, and Masumi and the others went backstage to meet the band members.

"Congratulations to Future! And to everyone in the Meteor Band, the performance was a great success!"

Chiai seemed extremely satisfied with the performance just now. Her emerald eyes sparkled as she clenched her fists in front of her chest, offering her blessings to the high school girls.

"Thank you, Sister Qian'ai, and everyone else, for your support. I'm very grateful," Wei Lai said softly.

"Uh-huh."

Qian Ai nodded with satisfaction and praised frankly, "Everyone's singing is really great, and you are also very charming in your stage outfits."

The girls wore brightly colored short dresses, revealing glimpses of their snow-white skin through black over-the-knee stockings, and had pink bunny ear ribbons tied on their heads, giving them the look of an idol girl band.

These cute yet stylish outfits were designed by Qian Ai.

"Thank you so much, Qian'ai, for making our stage outfits." The other girls bowed in unison.

"Hey, everyone, please don't do this." Qian Ai waved her hands in a bit of a panic. "I did this because I wanted to support everyone."

"Indeed, Senpai is very gentle."

"Their clothing-making skills are also amazing, completely at the level of a professional designer!"

The drummer and bassist's praise made Chiai's cheeks flush just like theirs.

"I love the star-shaped decorations; they're so sparkly and captivating!"

"Aimei really likes stars, huh?"

"I really like Arisa's thighs too~ They're usually covered in pantyhose, but now that they're finally showing, let me touch them!"

"Wait! Don't get so close! Take your hands away! I'm not that kind of frivolous girl!"

The blonde keyboardist and guitarist with twin ponytails started flirting openly, while their teammate rubbed his temples and sighed in exasperation.

"I'm so sorry to have made you laugh, Senior Qian'ai."

"Ah, it's nothing. It's great to see everyone so energetic."

Chiai mingled with the band members, chatting animatedly. Although they had left the spotlight, they still shone brightly after finding their dreams—that's the feeling Masumi had.

"Mr. Masumi."

Hearing someone timidly calling his name, Masumi looked away.

In the future, she walked up to him without making a sound, her black, thick-soled leather boots making rhythmic footsteps, her forehead glistening with dew-like sweat, as if still carrying the afterglow of her performance.

"Thank you so much for what you said to me before." After she finished speaking, she turned to Kurokawa Mio next to her, "And Mio-neechan too."

"Thanks to the experience of the two seniors, I was able to stay calm and composed during the performance."

Kurokawa Mio nodded calmly.

"That's good. Keep up the good work."

Masumi added a few more words, "What we say is secondary. The key is that your own mindset has changed. Otherwise, no matter what others say, it won't make a difference."

“Mr. Masumi, it’s always like this.” Mirai smiled gently.

"...That's right, Masumi is still the same as ever. She's not used to accepting praise from others and always pushes the credit away."

At this moment, Kurokawa Mio interjected.

She blocked their gazes with a powerful look, then smiled charmingly as she glanced at Masumi with a flirtatious smile.

“When we were in a band in Tokyo, Masumi always played an inspiring role. I felt very safe whenever Masumi was around.”

Future nodded slightly in agreement, "It's easy to imagine."

“Today is Kuon and the others’ home turf, so there’s no need to bring up these things.” Masumi shook her head. “Anyway, it’s all in the past.”

"No, that's not true. Those are precious memories between me and Masumi, aren't they?"

"..."

My fingers were suddenly touched by something, and I felt a distinct body temperature.

Masumi subconsciously assumed it was Kurokawa's restless little action, and quietly lowered her eyes, only to unexpectedly meet the gaze of the girl with long flaxen hair.

"what happened?"

Haiyue gently held his little finger, her cherry lips parting several times, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

Seeing her hesitation, Masumi struggled with confusion. Ugh... Kurokawa's piercing gaze hurt.

"She has something she wants to say to the future," Rinne explained from the side.

"Hey, with me?"

Future widened her eyes slightly in surprise, looked at the jellyfish girl with gentle eyes, and asked softly in a low voice, "What do you want to say to me, Moon?"

"..."

His slightly narrowed eyes reflected Haiyue's delicate and expressionless face.

This was a girl who, even when she remained motionless, was as beautiful as a doll. "Don't force yourself, just say it." Rinne reached out her long, slender, white hand and gently stroked Haiyue's back.

At such close range, Masumi gazed at Rinne, who was doting on Kaigetsu, and thought to herself: When did Kamishiro become a mother and have a daughter named Hanekawa?
He often takes care of Haiyue's unreliable and naive side, defends Haiyue in front of Kurokawa, and strictly controls her bad habit of staying up late playing on her phone... The relationship between the two always feels a bit strange.

Although the two are the same age, compared to their friendship, Masumi recalled Rinne's words about "family"—well, more like mother and daughter.

If you peel away that aloof, unattainable exterior, this heiress is actually a gentle person, someone who is used to taking care of others, as can be seen from her attitude towards the children in the orphanage.

No wonder Yuukawa did something so surprising when they first met. Like a jellyfish drifting on the water, she would subconsciously approach reliable people for support. This must be Haiyue's survival strategy.

She still held my little finger, and the warmth passed between our touching skin.

"The future...is amazing..."

The jellyfish girl managed to squeeze out those words with great difficulty.

"Eh." Mirai was slightly taken aback, but quickly nodded and said with a smile, "Thank you, Haiyue."

The smile that appeared on her lips was exactly the same as the smile she had given the audience on stage earlier—a pure smile born of her love for music, without any other distractions.

Seeing that smile, no one would doubt that she wasn't giving her all in her performance.

Like a beginner who has just started learning music, and despite their inexperience, they are full of enthusiasm and keep working hard, Masumi couldn't help but look away.

Because it reminds him of his past self.

……

The North High School Festival has a night festival component. The six of them chatted with the Meteor Band for a while before leaving, leaving the festive atmosphere to the vibrant high school students.

"Speaking of which, what exactly did Haiyue mean by 'amazing'? Was it her singing? Or her guitar playing?"

On the way back, Chiai asked curiously.

"It's... really amazing..."

Haiyue seemed puzzled by the question, nodded expressionlessly, and emphasized.

"Hey, that's it."

Qian'ai hasn't gotten used to Haiyue's unpredictable behavior yet, but her good-natured side allows her to treat those around her with gentleness and tolerance.

"Haiyue's natural demeanor usually makes me worry that she might suffer when dealing with people. It's so great that she can now praise others so frankly."

Actually, during the Uji River Fireworks Festival, Kaigetsu praised Chiai with admiration, but just like her childhood friend, this girl was not one to readily accept praise.

She then turned to Rinne, "It's all thanks to Rinne's encouragement. She and Masumi-nii have always been taking care of Kaigetsu."

Rinne nodded, admitting it frankly.

"Haiyue... perhaps 'this child' would be a more appropriate description. She's carefree and often appears absent-minded, but she's also very delicate and sensitive inside. If no one takes care of her, she's easily hurt."

“Only Rinne would think that way,” Kurokawa Mio sneered. “She’s much more shameless than you think, especially when it comes to Masumi.”

"Of all the people here, only Mio has no right to say that," Rinne retorted.

"Tsk, are you a mother protecting her daughter?"

Kurokawa Mio snorted coldly, saying meaningfully, "I'd like to see what the 'mother' of a 'child' who falls in love with the same person will do."

Masumi walked at the back of the group, too lazy to listen to their tense exchange.

A faint smell of gunpowder, a subtle atmosphere—though I don't want to admit it, this has indeed become a part of the coffee shop's daily routine.

However, besides that, there should usually be another voice at this time—

"Masumi-kun."

Someone patted him on the shoulder.

"what's up?"

He glanced back at the noisiest person in the coffee shop, who had been silent since earlier.

Are you free this weekend?

“Of course, we’re open on weekends,” Masumi replied without hesitation.

For the service industry, the time ordinary people rest is the time they work and earn money.

"Then, can I ask for leave?"

Asami hesitated, a rare occurrence in her tone.

"Of course not, it can't be if there's nothing wrong..."

Masumi paused here, raised the last syllable of her sentence, and asked, "Seno, is there something you need?"

Before even leaving the campus, the bustling atmosphere of the cultural festival still enveloped everyone, so much so that Masumi didn't notice that Asami's voice was trembling slightly.

"Ah."

"...Could you...stay with me for a moment?"
-
Note: In the paperback version of this book, which does not exist, Asami uses the word "付き合う", which has two meanings: "to accompany" and "to associate with".

(End of this chapter)